What restaurants are open for lunch on embarkation day please?

[breadandbutter]

What restaurants are open for lunch on embarkation day please?

[PaulMCO]

Emporium for sure.  Maybe Med Yacht or Sakura (either one or the other).

[Waltershipman]

30 minutes ago, PaulMCO said:

Emporium for sure.  Maybe Med Yacht or Sakura (either one or the other).

Loved the foie gras at lunch 

[breadandbutter]

On 9/4/2024 at 2:05 PM, Waltershipman said:

Loved the foie gras at lunch 

Where at?

[Waltershipman]

1 hour ago, breadandbutter said:

Where at?

Emporium Marketplace 

[breadandbutter]

On 9/9/2024 at 9:02 PM, Waltershipman said:

Emporium Marketplace 

Awesome, was that just on embarkation day?

Thanks

[Sololux]

So, in addition to Emporium Marketplace can anyone provide details of any restaurants that are definitely available on embarkation day, based on past experience.  I was thinking of getting a calm lunch after embarkation and then using the Marketplace for dinner instead - I figure that most people will head to the other restaurants after having lunch in the Marketplace.

[uktog]

10 minutes ago, Sololux said:

So, in addition to Emporium Marketplace can anyone provide details of any restaurants that are definitely available on embarkation day, based on past experience.  I was thinking of getting a calm lunch after embarkation and then using the Marketplace for dinner instead - I figure that most people will head to the other restaurants after having lunch in the Marketplace.

None other than the Emporium at lunchtime all open in the evening 

Edited September 11 by uktog

[Sololux]

Thanks uktog.

[Sololux]

Can I get room service instead?

[mike@sea]

Or…, You can have lunch somewhere, before you board the ship. 😉.  (Sorry couldn’t resist… )

They probably can accommodate you with lunch somehow in your suite, provided it is ready for your occupancy by whenever you want that lunch. But not sure as I have not asked about this myself. 
 

But what is so wrong with going to Marketplace which has so much space for anyone to sit inside and outside and dine quietly if wanted, getting a first glimpse of fellow passengers ? Don’t make the mistake of comparing the venue to those of bigger ships. Just saying…

[kelleherdl]

18 minutes ago, mike@sea said:

 

But what is so wrong with going to Marketplace which has so much space for anyone to sit inside and outside and dine quietly if wanted, getting a first glimpse of fellow passengers ? Don’t make the mistake of comparing the venue to those of bigger ships. Just saying…

If the OP’s concern is related to any issue with visiting the food order stations and/or carrying food to your table, or any other concern I can assure you the Hosts will help you anyway they can. The Hosts in the Emporium for breakfast and lunch are the same who will be serving you in the evening in the menu restaurants. They will come to know you early in your journey. I personally have not needed help in the Emporium and haven’t specifically asked, but I am certain the Hosts there will be happy to help you as much as you desire. 

[Sololux]

It’s not that I have anything against the EM but I had been thinking of going there for the first evening, taking a leisurely meal after a hectic couple of days.  I would like to wind down after unpacking and find my holiday “state of mind” as soon as possible.  I’m traveling solo so will have had a fair degree of stress as it’ll be my first actual holiday in 12 years - usually I have OH to help but he’s got the important role of looking after our cats.  I regularly travel to and from the U.K. but do that on autopilot these days so a trip to Istanbul will be out of my confort range!

[Bongomeme]

You could also consider lunch and dinner at Emporium.  There is such variety that you will have plenty of choice. We often had breakfast and dinner there. Enjoy your trip@

[Dr. Cocktail]

I see and hear where you're coming from.  While busy, the Emporium was certainly not chaotic.

 

While you have to manoeuvre around the various food stations, there's plenty of quiet outdoor seating where you will be well taken care of! 

 

Please note my table "marked" by my hand sanitizer!

[Cody-wody]

To piggyback, there are NO restaurants besides Emporium open for lunch (that I recall) and they are quite strict on cabin access before about 2 or even 3pm (which means no lunch room service). We put our bags in our room upon arrival (around 1230) and that also seemed very much frowned upon... but we did it anyway. I consider this part of the "Embarkation mess" that I described in my review. Nobody told us when our cabin would be ready - we had to ask - and there was no announcement. Check in staff seemed pretty clueless and it was hardly a "luxury" experience. Fortunately things did get better. 

[bobothecruiser]

I recommend you go for the “snacks” menu in Explora Lounge on deck 11.  You will enjoy waiter service for both food and drink.  As others have said, using “in suite dining” would necessitate deferring your lunch to mid afternoon. 
 

Each to their own, but you’d need to pay me (a lot!) to use EM at any time of day or evening.  We paid a premium price and expect at-table service, which is available to a very high standard for all meals every day.  We try to avoid the buffet on all ships.  By the way, Explora Lounge on deck 11 is also where they serve Afternoon Tea each day. 4 pm to 5 pm.

[Bongomeme]

Do you know how late Explora lounge serves “snacks” on embarkation day?

[uktog]

24 minutes ago, Bongomeme said:

Do you know how late Explora lounge serves “snacks” on embarkation day?

It serves all the way through to midnight or so 

[Bongomeme]

Thanks! I hope the rest of your trip goes well.

[bobothecruiser]

Uptight is correct.  To 2 am each day.

[bobothecruiser]

Upright should read UKTOG.   This text correction kills me 

[Elizabethbea]

There is only one restaurante open for lunch which is usually Sakura.

[uktog]

1 hour ago, Elizabethbea said:

There is only one restaurante open for lunch which is usually Sakura.

Facts from embarkation day, Sakura was NOT open for lunch - as guests who booked a 14 night cruise who found it was 2 7 night cruises we would have preferred if it had been. The only places open were the Emporium and the menu in the Explorer lounge. 
There has been a rotation between Sakura and Med Yacht on port days 

[breadandbutter]

Does anyone have the menu for the lounge snacks please? 

Thank you all for the info.